Architect says that current problems facing our cities cannot be solved with outmoded thinking.
In an era of scarcity, we need to call upon visionaries to provide effective and low-cost responses to problems such as homelessness, poverty, ill health and environmental degradation, writes Sonja Persram. Martin Liefhebber, principal architect of Breathe Architects and an innovator in the practice of sustainable building design, believes that solutions to urban problems must respond to the needs of a changing population. Amongst his prescriptions: introduce mixed-use zoning to permit more people to work from home, change zoning laws to permit more housing units on each property and also along laneways, change building codes to recognize alternative technologies, and redesign residential streets and sewage systems to be more friendly to people and the environment.
Thanks to Geoffrey Singer
FULL STORY: Urban Change Requires Vision

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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